Explorations in Matter
1/19/2019
As teachers, we know our students learn in many different ways: visual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic, and social. These are commonly known as learning styles. The term learning styles is widely used to describe how learners gather, sift through, interpret, organize, come to conclusions about, and “store” information for further use, according to Nancy Chick who wrote a paper for Vanderbuilt University's Center for Teaching entitled "Learning Styles". Coffield has identified over 70 different learning styles schemes (Coffield, 2014) which tells us that a student may have a strength or a preference in two or more learning styles. Multiple daily opportunities to practice these different learning styles is vital to students learning. Our recent investigations in to topic of matter included opportunities for all of the different learning styles. These hands-on experiences also allow students to experiment with trial and error, learn from their mistakes, give and gain feedback from their peers and process the new information in ways that made sense to them. PNA provides opportunities for students with various learning styles through hands on activities every day. They provide tactile or kinesthetic learners (those who need to to physically engage or move) to engage with and actually manipulate the information being presented. Auditory learners are also engaged as they are talking and listening about the learning that is happening. Visual learners are able to observe what is actually happening around them as they process new information. Social learners are given the opportunity for peer interaction as they process the information by means of communication. For all learners, the time spent in these learning situations strengthen their content knowledge, communication skills, and confidence, as well as allowing them to process and reflect on the information being presented in ways that make sense to each of them.
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Marcella HitchcockMs. Hitchcock teaches second grade, is a mom of two, an avid reader, lifelong learner, and a seeker of sunshine! Archives
March 2021
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